Week Calendar

Did you know 100% of the blood used in central Iowa comes from LifeServe Blood Center? 

Join LifeServe Blood Center and Des Moines Public Library in saving local lives with blood donations. 

“Mother Goose on the Loose”, is a 30-minute nursery rhyme program for newborns to three-year-olds. The class helps to strengthen babies' and toddler's foundation for literacy with rhymes, rhythm, repetition, story, and movement.

Drop-in to North Side to make a Valentine. While supplies last.

Children ages three to five can come and enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, and more, followed by a craft.

Play, Grow, Learn! is an opportunity for you to use the Imagination Station to explore early literacy tips and books, play with others, and develop early literacy skills using Forest Avenue Library's space and toys.

Make a Valentine in our children's area! While supplies last.

Join us for rhymes, bounces, a story, and a short playtime.

For caregivers and babies from newborns up to eighteen months.

“Mother Goose on the Loose”, is a 30-minute nursery rhyme program for newborns to three-year-olds. The class helps to strengthen babies' and toddler's foundation for literacy with rhymes, rhythm, repetition, story, and movement.

“Mother Goose on the Loose”, is a 30-minute nursery rhyme program for newborns to three-year-olds. The class helps to strengthen babies' and toddler's foundation for literacy with rhymes, rhythm, repetition, story, and movement.

Toddlers and caregivers can enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, occasional crafts and a little playtime with Miss Janee. For toddlers ages 18 months - 3 years.

Do you need a calm place to play? Then come to the Forest Avenue Calming Room for a sensory interactive experience! This is an unsupervised, drop-in program for youth.

Make a Valentine in our children's area! While supplies last.

Join us weekly for rhymes, songs, bounces, stories, and a little playtime. For caregivers and babies ages 0 - 18 months.

Event Details

Toddlers and their caregivers can enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays and more, followed by a craft. Ages 18 months to 3 years. Meeting Room.

Enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, movement and more!

Adults and children play together in an environment set up to promote all areas of development through open ended active play focused on the 5 Simple Steps to Success strategies of read, write, sing, play and talk.

Visit the East Side Library every Wednesday and Saturday from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm for tax preparation assistance from AARP. All help will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

 Join Miss Janee for stories, rhymes, songs, movement, and occasional crafts/activities that build literacy and kindergarten-readiness skills. Ages three to five.

Play, Grow, Learn! is an opportunity for you to use the Imagination Station to explore early literacy tips and books, play with others, and develop early literacy skills using Forest Avenue Library's space and toys.

Join us for stories, songs, fingerplays and movement that build literacy skills for ages three to six years old.

On Thursdays, children and their caregivers can enjoy stories, rhymes, fingerplays, and songs together, followed by a period of free play or drawing.

Adults and children play together in an environment set up to promote all areas of development through open ended active play focused on the 5 Simple Steps to Success strategies of read, write, sing, play and talk.  Join us for 60 minutes of

The LEGO bricks will be available in the Children's Area, so bring your imagination and get ready to build.

Make a Valentine in the children's area!

Join us for stories, songs, and movement to practice the 5 simple steps of pre-literacy:  reading, singing, talking, writing, and playing!  Best for children aged 18 months to 3 years old.

Families can join us at South for our Kid's Craft Day! Drop in from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the Elementary Area to make and take a scratch art bookmark! For youth ages 3 and up. Parent/guardian must be present with children.

Beat the February boredom by searching for all of the winter pictures hiding in the children's area.  

Search for pictures from around the world throughout the library. Find them all and take home a small prize!

Drop-in at the library to create your own whirlygig toy! This craft will be kept at the Youth Desk and is first come first served, as supplies last. One craft per child.

Looking for funding for your non-profit organization? The Foundation Directory Online provides access to a database of grantmakers and more that can help you in  your search.

Visit the East Side Library every Wednesday and Saturday from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm for tax preparation assistance from AARP. All help will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

Event Details

Toddlers and their caregivers can enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays and more, followed by a craft. Ages 18 months to 3 years. Meeting Room.

Children are encouraged to read with Caper, the therapy dog, at South! Caper is a friendly Pembroke Welsh Corgi who loves to hear stories! Walk in and choose a book to read to Caper in the Children's Area! For youth ages 3-12.

Do you want to practice your English skills? Looking to meet new people in your community? Join community members and English language learners alike at Forest Avenue Library and enjoy light refreshments and sparkling conversation!

Dogs, cats, ducks, rabbits, and a pigeon -- oh my! Come hang out with the Animal Rescue Leagues TheraPets at the Central Library. 

Join us at the Franklin Library for open play and more! Meet families with other young children, check out our awesome picture books, and engage in the five simple steps to success - Read, Write, Sing, Play, and Talk!

Visit us at the North Side Library every Monday to learn some computer basics. Receive one-on-one help with navigating the computer, using the mouse, and setting up an email account.

Editing and paring a lifetime of memories is not something to put off until you approach or cross life's finish line.

It’s never too late to feel comfortable with a computer.  Every Wednesday at the Central Library, staff will answer your questions about­­ computer basics, online Library resources, email­­­, and more. 

Visit us every Thursday afternoon to receive guidance in searching for jobs. We will use Google Tools to help you create an email account, build a simple resume, and apply for jobs.

Travel back in time to Buxton, Iowa with author Rachelle Chase. Buxton was a coal mining town where black people and white people were treated as equals in the era of segregation.

Love Raina Telgemeier, superheroes, manga, graphic novels, and cartoons? Ready to let your artist flag fly? Then come to Comics Creators! We'll provide the paper and pens, you provide the creativity!

Do you want to give back to the world? Or to someone special in your life? Or maybe a stranger? Learn how Random Acts of Kindness can impact someone's life and how you can make a difference.

Hang out at North Side and enjoy some time playing games on our Nintendo Switch. Snacks may be provided as they last. This program is for ages 10-18.

Read a story, explore and create with art and STEM activities! Bring your imagination and join us in the children's area. Ages 3 years to 8 years.

Join us every Tuesday as we play Roblox, Minecraft, and more. Grades 3-8. 

Do you love all things Pokémon?  Catch 'em all at our monthly Pokémon Club.  Enjoy snacks, trade cards, watch the show, and hang out after school with other fans.  Drop in anytime between 4:00-5:00 for snacks, fun, and more every se

Today during our Discovery Day we will hear the story, Love, Z and create our own light up Valentine's Day cards using paper circuits!  Explore some other fun stations when you are finished including coding, robots and a craft or two!

Come make a difference at the Central Library while meeting other teens interested in helping their community! Work together to help prepare youth activities, assist with programs and more to bulk up your résumé. Ages 12-18. No Walk-ins.

Join us every Wednesday as we explore different STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related activities.  Grades 3-8. 

Make your own bookmarks with flower pounding.  We will use stones to crush flowers into paper, staining them with pigment and making beautiful patterns. As supplies last.

Diseña tu propio botón para celebrar el Día del Amor y la Amistad

Design your own button to celebrate Valentine’s Day

Celebrate Black History Month with a showing of Remember the Titans (rated PG).  Along with the movie, light refreshments and quiet activities will be available for your enjoyment.  Set in Virginia in the early 1970s, 'Remember the Titan

Bring the family at night for stories, songs, and occasional crafts and activities that prepares your children for school! You can even wear your jammies! All ages welcome!

Dr. Natalie J.A. Benson, who received an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Modern French Art and Literature at the University of Iowa, is the presenter of a five-session series on modern art.

Come and enjoy stories, rhymes, songs and crafts in English and Spanish.

Venga y disfrute cuentos, rimas, canciones, y manualidades en inglés y español.

Join us for a showing of Brown Girl Begins (see trailer) as part of February's Black Future Film series

The whole family can come to the library for stories, rhymes and songs. Rosie's Rocket Reading Room

Play with your food and eat it too with our candy slime activity.  We will read some sweet stories and take home our delicious snack.

We will discuss Ask Again, Yes: A Novel by Mary Beth Keane. Copies of the book will be available at the Information Desk while supplies last. No registration required. 

Coffee and Collage is back! For those familiar with our collage evenings, mark your calendar for another evening of creativity.

Families can enjoy stories, rhymes, and songs together on Wednesday nights. It's a great way for busy families to relax and listen to stories together.